Improvement in potato-diggeks



M. HENDERSON.

Potato Digger.

' I Patanted July 21, 1868.

MiOHEAL HENDERSON, 0 DETROIT,"MIGHIGAN Letters Patent No. 80,0'Z0, datedJuly 21, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN PO A O-messes.

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'ro WHOMIT MAYCONOERN:

Be it known that I, MicuEAL Hnnnnnson, of Detroit, in the county ofWayne, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Potato-HarvestingMachines;, and I do declare that the following is atrue and accurate description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,and being apart of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus.

Figure 2 is a view of the same from the bottom.

The same letters indicate like parts in each figure.

The object I have in view in this invention is the construction of asimple, cheap, and efiectual apparatus for digging and thoroughlycleaning potatoes preparatory to storing. v i

My apparatus is surmounted upon a proper frame and wheels, and isprovided with suitable pulleys, to give motion to a. series of broomsattached to endless chains, by means which, after the potatoes have beentaken out of the ground by a proper scoop, and delivered upon alongitudinal screen, the brooms are broughttowork to" clean theLPotatoesand carry them to the rear end of the apparatus, while the dirt'isdropped through the screen.

Having thusset forth the ohjectof myinvention, I willnow describe itsconstruction, and nameits various parts.

A is an ordinary scoop, wide enough to take up any-sized1hill ofpotatoes, as usually planted, and is secured to thofront ends oflongitudinal side-bars B, and gratc-barsJ, which are properly framedintoand firmly attached to said side-bars B, the whole suspended bysuilicient hangers, 2, to the side-timbers of the frame G at the rearend, andnnder the bars and B are seourelyfastened to the-bars B suitablerunners, Opwhichmay be provided with box-draws for receiving potatoes,if desired. l

- The frame'G, carrying the apparatus, is surmounted upon the axle N,provided with wheels, D, supporting the rear -end, while'the front endrests. upon any proper truck, like theforward truck of an ordinarywagon, provided with standards, L, and secured in a. proper elevation bypins passing through the'ends of the arms X p and the standard L, asmaybe necessary; i V v i v The pulleys D, firmly secured to the axleN,'-near the outer sides of the frame-timbers G, give motion to thecylinder H by bolts, F, passing around pulleys, E, secured to thecylinder H by arms passing through the pulleys of the cylinder H,forming journals for the same. i a i The rear cylinder H is placedtransversely at the rear end of the apparatus, and is properlyjournalled into the timbers G, and is operated by chain-belts I, towhich are secured the transverse bars K, provided with brooms, brushes,or cleaners, 3, all of which is operated as follows: i

By moving the apparatus forward, the wheels track in the furrows betweenthe rows,'the scoop A passes under the potatoes, which move back on tothe front of the screen-hers J. The motionvof the bars K being fromfront torear ov cr the bars J, and the brooms 3 being attached to thesaid bars K, the' potatoes are carried back by the bars ,and broornsworking from front to near. The brooms traverse and work through andbetween the longitudinal h'ars J of the screen, clearing the same fromvines or other foreignsuhstances, and

depositing the potatoes throughthe openings din proper box-draws, itrequired.

To secure a greater amount of traction,- the wheels D are providedwith'arms, M, having sharp projections insert-ed in their ends,preventing anyslipping of the wheels in passing over the ground, andsecuring acorn tinuous motion of the apparatus during its operation.

What Iolaini as my invention, and'dcsire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The scoop A, connected with the bars J and B, providedwitlrtransverse runners O, and openings 4, when arranged and operatingsubstantially as and for thepurposes set forth. I

2. The cylinders H, bars K, andbelts I, when operated by belts F frompulleys D, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified. Ii

3. The combination of the above-named partswith frame G, bars K, broomsor brushes 3,..secured to endless helts I, axle N,;and wheels D whenconstructed, arranged, and operating substantially as audfor thepurposes set forth. 7 l U I MICHEAL' HENDERSON.

Witnesses:

H. S. Srnneun,

J. W. I'Iouenrunm.

